Classic Musical Oliver! opens at UW-Waukesha

WAUKESHA – The University of Wisconsin-Waukesha’s summer musical Oliver! with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, opens Friday, July 26.
Oliver! – a Tony Award-winning classic – vividly brings to life Charles Dickens’ timeless characters and ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more. The production is animated with high-spirited dance numbers and filled with unforgettable tunes, including “Pick-a-pocket,” “Where is Love,” “Consider Yourself,” and “As Long As He Needs Me.”
Performed by a cast of 32 UW-Waukesha students and community members and accompanied by a professional orchestra, Oliver! is family entertainment at its best.
Performances of Oliver! will be Friday and Saturday, July 26-27 at 7:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, August 2-3 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, August 4 at 2 p.m.; all in the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, located in the Fine Arts Center on campus at 1500 N. University Dr., Waukesha. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens, and free with a UW-Waukesha student ID. They will be sold at the door, and the box office opens an hour before each performance. All seating is general admission. For ticket information, call 262-521-5212.
Associate Professor of Communication & Theatre Arts Steven Decker is directing and set designing the play. Assistant Professor of Music Nancy Van Brunt and Professor of Music Craig Hurst will assist with the musical direction and conducting of the production.
Guest Artist Ryan Cappleman is not only choreographing the show but appearing in one of the title roles of Fagin. Cappleman is a two time Tommy Award winner for choreography, an honor that celebrates excellence in musical theatre productions among area high schools in Wisconsin. He has also taught acting and musical theatre at First Stage in Milwaukee and recently made his off-Broadway debut in the musical Waiting…a Song Cycle. Cappleman’s work is generously supported by the UW-Waukesha Foundation. Its endowed artist fund offers financial support to professional theatre artists. As guest artists in residence at UW-Waukesha, these artists serve as teachers and mentors to students and community members in the arts. Cappleman, who appeared in UW-Waukesha’s Little Shop of Horrors in 2010 and A Capperet-A London Cabaret in 2012, was selected by Decker as the inaugural recipient of this honor for his outstanding talent and skill as an actor and choreographer.
Performers include:
Emma Borkowski, Waukesha, Charlotte, Pickpocket
Regan Carter, Waukesha, Workhouse Orphan, Pickpocket
Silas Dittmer, Pewaukee, Workhouse Orphan, Bookseller's Boy
Siobhan Dittmer, Pewaukee, Workhouse Orphan, Pickpocket
Maggie Flanagan, Waukesha, Old Sally
Sydney Johnson, Waukesha, Workhouse orphan
Tyler Johnson, Waukesha, Charles Bates, Workhouse orphan, Pickpocket
Carmen Libesch, Stonebank, Workhouse orphan
Chantae Miller, Waukesha, Workhouse orphan
Paxton Robarge, Waukesha, Workhouse orphan
Ryan Cappleman, Franklin, Fagin
Morgen Clarey, Green Bay, Nancy
Sam Dittmer, Pewaukee, Laundress, Adult Chorus
Seth Dittmer, Pewaukee, Noah Claypole, Ensemble
Timothy E. Ecklor, Elkhart Lake, Mr. Sowerberry, Ensemble
Emma Estenson, Nashotah, Strawberry Seller, Ensemble
Katie Jasinski, Waukesha, Bow Street Runner
James Katzenmeyer, Delafield, Vegetable Salesman, Ensemble
Madeleine Kuenn, Sussex, The Artful Dodger
Jonathan LaMack, Waukesha, Oliver Twist
Ryan Matthew Lamb, Waukesha, Mr. Bumble, Long-Song Seller
Angela Lee, Sussex, Mrs. Sowerberry
Dylan Meyer, Waukesha, Chairman, Hussar , Ensemble
Stephanie Nilsen, Waukesha, Milkmaid, Ensemble
Elizabeth O'Hara, Waukesha, Rose Seller, Ensemble
Melissa Pol, Waukesha, Mrs. Bedwin, Ensemble
John Reilly, Prairie, Dr. Grimwig
Kira Renkas, Waukesha, Bow Street Runner
Amelia Scheit, Slinger, Widow Corney
John Sindic, Waukesha, Mr. Brownlow
Caitlin Thiele, Oconomowoc, Bett
Joey Woolfolk, Waukesha, Bill Sykes
The Orchestra includes:
Vincent Cefalu, Waukesha, Percussion
Sandy Frisque, Waukesha, Horn
Craig W. Hurst, Waukesha, Conductor
Alec Henry, West Allis, Bass
David Jensen, Waukesha, Trombone
Katy Kostich, West Allis, Cello
Marty Morgan, Waukesha, Drums
Alyssa Pon-Franklin, Waukesha, Flute/Piccolo
Ashley Rewolinski, Waukesha, Violin
Larry Sheets, Waukesha, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Marcia Smeiska, Waukesha, Oboe/English Horn
Jen Van Brunt, Milwaukee, Piano
Sarah Zawadiwsky, West Bend, Bassoon
Crew includes:
Steve Decker, Waukesha, Producer, Director, Scene Design
Jim Padovano, Waukesha, Production Stage Manager
Jeff Smerz, West Allis, Technical Director, Lighting Design
Nancy Van Brunt, Waukesha, Music and Vocal Director
Jennifer Van Brunt, Milwaukee, Music and Vocal Director
Craig Hurst, Waukesha, Pit Orchestra Director
Ryan Cappleman, Franklin, Choreographer
Candace Decker, Waukesha, Costume Design
Megan Makowski, Oconomowoc, Dramaturg, Lobby Display
David Robins, Butler, Stage Manager
Maggie Flanagan, Waukesha, Production Assistant
Megan Munro, Oconomowoc, Assistant Stage Manager
Andrea Williamson, Waukesha, Costume Assistant
Colleen Glatzell, Waukesha, Production Assistant
David Stasiewski, Waukesha, Sound Engineer
Shane Bloohm, Waukesha, Stage Carpenter
Kann Hojnacki, Waukesha, Technical Assistant
Annelise Pronschinske, Waukesha, Technical Assistant
Bethany Kreiter, Waukesha, Box Office Manager
Kyle Kingston, Madison, Poster Design
The UW-Waukesha Lunt-Fontanne Ensemble presents a wide variety of productions, including a summer children’s theatre production of How High is Up? set for August 13-16. As a college theatre program, education is the primary goal, and shows fall in all genres.
UW-Waukesha
UW–Waukesha has the largest enrollment among the 13 UW Colleges campuses with more than 2,000 students. These freshman/sophomore campuses and UW Colleges Online comprise the UW Colleges. They offer an associate of arts and sciences degree and prepare students of all ages and backgrounds for baccalaureate and professional programs. In addition, UW-Waukesha offers several collaborative bachelor’s degrees through UW-Milwaukee and UW-Oshkosh.
For information about programs, admission or financial aid, contact the Student Services office at 262-521-5040 or visit the Web at www.waukesha.uwc.edu. You can follow the campus on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UWWaukesha or Twitter at www.twitter.com/UWWaukesha.
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